The Houthis restrict internet access in Saada: Dimensions of digital isolation

According to multiple local and technical sources, the Houthi group has begun a widespread campaign to restrict internet services in Saada province, the group's main stronghold in northern Yemen. This move is part of a series of measures aimed at tightening control over the flow of information and limiting citizens' access to the internet, raising widespread concerns about increasing digital isolation in the region.

Details of the restrictions and new procedures

According to reports, the new measures primarily target commercial Wi-Fi networks prevalent in neighborhoods and villages, which a large segment of the population relies on for affordable internet access. Local authorities affiliated with the group have imposed strict conditions on the owners of these networks, including limiting operating hours, reducing coverage, and imposing stringent security controls on content and user logs. These actions coincide with a general decline in 3G and 4G mobile phone services in the province.

Background to the control of the telecommunications sector in Yemen

This action is not an isolated incident, but rather an extension of a systematic policy pursued by the Houthi group since its takeover of the capital, Sana'a, in September 2014. The group seized control of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and gained complete control of YemenNet, the country's main internet service provider. Since then, the group has used the telecommunications sector as a dual tool: first, as a massive source of revenue to fund its military operations through increased fees and levies; and second, as a security and intelligence tool to monitor dissidents and block critical news and human rights websites.

Strategic importance and impact of digital isolation

This restriction in Saada is particularly significant given the province's symbolic importance as the group's stronghold. Observers believe that tightening digital control at this time may aim to prevent any leaks of information about the internal situation or to limit the influence of social media, which has become the only outlet for Yemenis to express their opinions. Cutting off or restricting the internet imposes a complete isolation on the population, hindering social interaction and severely impacting the small and medium-sized economic sector, which relies entirely on digital applications for business transactions.

Human rights and humanitarian implications

From a human rights perspective, internet access is a fundamental right guaranteed by international conventions, as it empowers individuals to express themselves and access information. International and local human rights organizations have repeatedly warned of the dangers of using the internet as a weapon in the Yemeni conflict, noting that such practices exacerbate the suffering of civilians and deepen the humanitarian crisis. The continuation of these restrictions not only obscures the truth but also contributes to creating an environment of media blackout that facilitates the perpetration of violations away from the world's gaze.